Hello CR Gang,
After recovering from all the festivities at the Cirque, I felt compelled to write to you all for the very first time (with Jan's help typing and editing).
I was truly overwhelmed by the positive and genuine compliments that I received from so many of you upon hearing my little 'talk'. I hoped that I could convey how exciting it was to discover cycling as a teenager and apparantly struck a familiar chord with so many of you. And speaking about framebuilding in the presence of such greats as Richard Sachs, Brian Baylis, Chris Kvale, Jamie Swan, and Peter Weigle was an honor. All of them Carriers of the "Torch", in more ways than one. (Thanks guys, for sitting through my B.S.!)
It's exciting to hear how others were drawn into cycling and what inspired them to ride in the 'good old days'. Being around these old bikes inspires us all to preserve their beauty and appreciate their history. It's also fun to reunite with old friends and meet some new ones, who, up until now I'd only read about.
My sincere thanks and appreciation go to Dale Brown for organizing such a wonderful event and encouraging me to speak this year. However scared I was leading up to the talk, I soon found my rhythm and thoroughly enjoyed sharing my story with you. I would encourage others to consider speaking at one of these events. Everybody has a tale to tell, and sharing them with others is what the CR group is all about.
With time running out in my speech, I neglected to thank Chuck Schmidt for doing such an excellent job on designing the new decals for Jan's fixed gear bike. Chuck, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I hope to see everyone at next year's Cirque....or sooner, at Velo Rendezvous in Pasadena in early October.
best regards,
Peter Johnson
Portola Valley, CA